Joint letter to Ursula von der Leyen on Better Regulation Guidelines and the Water Framework Directive

This joint letter to Ursula von der Leyen, signed by six of European associations representing tens of millions of citizens, raises concerns about the proposed review of the EU’s Water Framework Directive (WFD), the EU’s main water protection law. The letter highlights procedural shortcomings, including departures from the Better Regulation Framework, lack of transparency, and unbalanced stakeholder participation. It also notes that the Commission’s own evidence, including the 2020 fitness check, found the Directive to be fit for purpose, while recent consultations show strong opposition to reopening it.

The signatories call on the European Commission to:
• Reconsider revising the WFD in the absence of supporting evidence
• Use established, inclusive consultation platforms such as the WFD Common Implementation Strategy
• Take into account the broad evidence and public support for maintaining strong water protections